West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin announced Friday that he had left the Democratic Party and had registered as an independent, Axios reported.
“To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for America’s sensible majority,” Manchin said in a statement, according to NBC News.
My commitment to do everything I can to bring our country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation. pic.twitter.com/tvMB2N87AW
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) May 31, 2024
“My commitment to do everything I can to bring our country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation,” Manchin posted on X.
Manchin previously announced in November 2023 that he would not seek re-election in the Senate, where he has served since 2010. Before entering the Senate, he served as the state’s governor from 2005 to 2010.
Manchin indicated Wednesday that he would not enter the West Virginia governor’s race, despite rampant speculation that he would jump in, and he instead expressed his support for the Democratic nominee, Steve Williams.
“My support is with Steve Williams,” Manchin said, according to The Hill. “He’s been a friend of mine for 40 years, and we’ve worked together. I know how good he is, I know how competent he is, and I know how hard he’ll work. So, I’ve been supporting Steve.”
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Williams will face the Republican nominee, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, in November. Most election predictions forecast a solid victory for Morrisey.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
